Weather Applications

Snow, ice, wind, storms, floods, fog - the winter season can bring a host of extreme weather which can impact on all transportation networks. As such, there is an obvious need for regular weather forecasts and updates (i.e. for informing gritting routes, applying speed restrictions etc).

Roads and railways are extremely vulnerable to extreme winter weather, yet they are integral to everyday life.

Biometeorology is the study of the impact weather has on the natural world, including animals, plants and humans. This includes the impact on symptoms of existing diseases, contribution to new conditions and temporary physiological changes. There are a number of illnesses and symptoms that are caused or exacerbated by certain types of weather. Here we discuss some of the more obvious conditions, as well as some, perhaps, more surprising ailments.

Hay fever maps have been produced to help sufferers identify ‘hotspots’ that should be avoided. The map locates plants that can trigger hay fever or asthma attacks across Britain. It is hoped the map will help sufferers make decisions about where to live, work or visit at certain times, by also identifying the peak times when pollen is released. The researchers from University of Exeter, the Met Office and NERC’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, examined 12 key plant species that are associated with hay fever and asthma and mapped the data across Britain.

My passion for bird watching began before my passion for the weather. However, because bird watching is very dependent upon the weather I have been able to enhance my bird watching skills by considering the dependence of bird behaviour on the weather.

Tornadoes. A climate view of tornadoes. Possibly the hardest brief yet. There is very little that is certain about climate change and tornadoes. When and where a tornado outbreak in the US occurs is predominantly determined by weather patterns that bring together the warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the cold dry air from the North. Because these weather patterns are very variable from year to year, it is hard to establish any long term effect of climate change.

Mike Olbinski was born in 1975 in Glendale, Arizona and has lived in the general Phoenix area his entire life. He is married with three children. In this article, Mike explains where his passion for storm chasing and photography originates from and gives us a preview of some of the photographs featured in his new book, ‘Storm Chaser’

It is no secret that the weather and energy consumption have always been intrinsically linked. The basic theories of supply and demand drive a lot of the relationship – if the weather is very cold we will demand more power and knowing what the weather might do months, seasons or even years ahead will help shape predictions on how much power we need to generate. But weather is just one factor that effects our power requirements and prices, and until recently, other core factors like UK politics, geopolitical events, the economy, etc.

For meteorologists and weather enthusiasts, the storm chasing season are the most exciting weeks in the meteorological calendar. During May and June, thousands of people from across the world will travel to the Great Plains of America hoping to witness impressive thunderstorms, giant hail, and most sought-after, the perfect tornado.

About theWeather Club

theWeather Club is full of interesting and educational content that captures the many faces of the weather – its beauty, its power, its occasional absurdity and its fragility in the face of human activity.